Franz Poenitz (1850-1912)

We have just added two CDs of the music of Franz Poenitz (1850-1912) to our shop along with the new Adlais publication of his duet for two harps Spukhafte Gavotte (op 75) - The Ghostly Gavotte.

Franz Poenitz: Songs and Hymns with harp

Mezzo-Soprano - Sophie Marilley, Harmonium - Claudio Brizi,
Harp I - Laura Vinciguerra, Harp II - Susanna Bertuccioli

Track listing
1.	Fantasia in G-Flat, Op. 65 (1902)	11:40
2.	Der 13. Psalm Davids, Op. 30, for Mezzo-Soprano and Harp (1892)	04:34
3.	Spukhafte Gavotte, Op. 75, for Two Harps (1907)	07:34
4.	Der Fischer, Op. 28, for Soprano/Tenor and Harp (1891)	06:55
5.	Intermezzo for Two Harps	05:59
6.	Friede in Jesus, Op. 22, for Mezzo-Soprano, Harp and Harmonium (1889)	04:25
7.	Weihnachtslied, Op. 60, for Mezzo-Soprano, Harp and Harmonium (1900)	03:02
8.	Wikingerfahrt, Op. 80, for Two Harps (1913)	09:43

Franz Poenitz: Works for harp
 Laura Vinciguerra - harp
with Roberto Petrocchi - Clarinet & Paolo Franceschini - Violin

Track Listing
1.	Todestanz der Willys, Op. 24	08:20
2.	Italienische Romanze, Op. 27	04:34
3.	Drei leichte Stücke, Op. 29: Ständchen	01:39
4.	Drei leichte Stücke, Op. 29: Die Spieldose	01:45
5.	Drei leichte Stücke, Op. 29: Wiegenliedchen	01:43
6.	Romanze 1862, unpublished	01:59
7.	Romanze for violin and harp (unpublished)	04:20
8.	Klänge aus der Alhambra - Fantasy, Op. 68	10:43
9.	Gebet, Op. 67	02:32
10.	Zwei Salonstücke, Op. 26 for violin and harp: Im Frühling	02:03
11.	Zwei Salonstücke, Op. 26 for violin and harp: Venetianisches Gondellied	04:08
12.	Nordische Ballade, Op.33	14:37
13.	Capriccio, Op.73 for clarinet and harp	08:59
14.	Elegy in memoriam Franz Poenitz, Op.17	05:37

Spukhafte Gavotte Op.75

Duet for two harps  

Spukhafte Gavotte Op.75 (1907) is subtitled ‘On a poem by Heinrich Heine’. The words ‘spuk’ (‘spook’) and ‘gavotte’ point to Heine’s poem Maria Antoinette, a ghostly work that depicts the queen in the Tuileries Palace: in ceremonial fashion, her courtiers prepare their mistress for her daily reception although the guillotine has already relieved them all of their heads. One can only speculate as to whether Poenitz was actually referring to this poem; for a court musician in contact with the emperor, such as an act would have been rather provocative!

©Andreas Fischer 2012.

Translation Richard Evidon